The latest development in this enduring Colts-Jonathan Taylor drama involves the running back’s attendance. Taylor was not with the Colts at their Tuesday practice, and ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes it was by design.
Residing on the Colts’ active/PUP list, Taylor has left the team facility to rehab his ankle at an unspecified offsite location. The team has been informed of Taylor’s plans to rehab offsite, and Holder adds the absence is expected to last several days. Taylor has not practiced with the Colts since last season and has expressed frustration about his contract to the point a trade request emerged.
Taylor’s trade request still stands, and while rumors about this PUP stay doubling as a hold-in effort have swirled during this turbulent period, it is interesting the fourth-year running back is still in need of rehab after undergoing surgery in January. The procedure on Taylor’s injured ankle was believed to be minimally invasive in nature. The Colts have cited Taylor’s 2022 injury, which caused him to miss six games, as a reason for tabling extension talks. Jim Irsay pronounced Taylor ready to go just before camp, but that has proven to be far from the case.
Rumblings about Taylor complaining of back and hamstring pain at camp led to a rumor the team was considering shifting him to the active/NFI list. Taylor has denied making such a complaint. A move from PUP to NFI would affect Taylor’s $4.3MM 2023 base salary (and potentially destroy this fractured relationship). As of last week, the Colts were not likely to make that designation switch. And Taylor needing ankle treatment would not allow for such a move, since this rehab effort pertains to an injury he suffered while playing in 2022.
Although rumors have circulated regarding trade interest in Taylor, this ankle issue would stand to diminish any market that may or may not be forming. The running back position has sustained steady blows this year, and even while residing as one of the position’s young aces, Taylor not being ready six-plus months after a minor surgery likely will keep him in Indianapolis. Irsay has already indicated no trade is coming, and the ankle problem will make it unlikely a worthwhile offer comes Indy’s way.
Already down backup Zack Moss due to a broken arm and Deon Jackson due to an unspecified injury, the Colts signed Kenyan Drake late last week. Drake, who worked out for the team, is going into his age-29 season. Drake signed a one-year deal worth $1.17MM, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds the pact comes with $153K guaranteed.
I thought it was a bad back that was holding him up? Less the contract stuff.
JT may think he’s being clever by denying his services to the Colts, but all he is doing is showing himself to be a physically fragile malcontent. Football players like that don’t get big contracts.
This whole drama between Taylor and the Colts reminds of a similar drama that took place between Trent Williams and Washington. Trent wanted a big payday and had all these mystery injuries he claimed weren’t being addressed by the team doctors. He eventually got a change of scenery to Frisco and a decent salary hike to boot.
CEL, that is a good comparison. I’d be unhappy playing for an owner like Irsay. guy is a D and throws people under the bus even when wrong. Seems like he’s drunk most of the time
First, the drinking line is old and tired. He battled a serious illness, won, and now raises millions of dollars to help others fight. Second, many Colts greats laud him him during and after their time in Indy; Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Edgerin James, Tony Dungy. Edge had him speak at his HOF induction.
The drama with Taylor is on Taylor and his agent. I doubt he could go anywhere else and make the equivalent of Trent Williams money. It’s not going to happen for running backs. Taylor is under contract and is stupid for jeopardizing money this year and in the future by holding out.
Who wants to pay a RB that is showing that he’s injury prone? Still not recovered from minor ankle surgery 6 months later? No thanks.
Jonathan Taylor and Joe Burrow must have the same agent…. They will not be back on the field without a new contract.
I wonder if Josh Jacobs is paying attention?
Basically, the phantom back injury can be used to still get paid and accrue service time and not play, but it has to occur while doing football activity that is team sanctioned.